Seat Cupra R’s a devil in disguise

The Seat Cupra R is a very respectable looking car

Choose your route very carefully when you take the Seat Leon Cupra R out for a spin for the first time.

I, unfortunately, stupidly took a heavily speed ramped route – I know, madness – which led to much frustration as the Cupra R is a car which clearly craves the road.

Once I got out of speed ramp territory, I absolutely loved driving Seat’s little racer.

The cockpit in the Seat Cupra R is functional and well laid out

On the outside, it’s a very respectable looking car and unless you’ve spotted the R insignia on the grille, bumper or on the rear, and know what it means, or heard the low growl of the engine, you might dismiss it as a regular three-door.

But it’s not even a three door, it’s actually a five door – the rear door handles cleverly camouflaged in the black privacy glass-work.

Inside, the quilted leather upholstered bucket sports seats are comfortable, as is the driving position.

It’s well kitted-out too, with auto-lights and auto wipers, cruise control, radio/CD and a very accessible USB port. The sound system was excellent.

Both front and rear windows are electric. The test car also had front and rear parking sensors and a tyre pressure warning system which tells you if the air in your tyres is low.

The real pleasure in this car though is in the driving. It handled well in the country as well as in the city, but it’s most at home on the open road.

The bucket sports seats in the Seat Cupra R are comfortable

With a 2-litre petrol engine putting out 260PS, it leaves everybody else standing at the lights. You can really notice the wonderful acceleration going from 0-120kph as you join the motorway.

The suspension is also great – you don’t feel any of the bumps on the road.

I also liked that the car automatically lowers the audio volume when you put it into reverse.

A five-door hatchback with decent cabin and boot space, the Cupra R is also quite practical.

In fact, there really is very little to dislike about it, but of course, it goes without saying that a tremendously fun sporty car like this isn’t the most economical to run.

Overall, I found the Seat Cupra R to be a wonderful, exhilarating car that’s a really enjoyable drive. Sedate and respectable-looking, it’s a real devil in disguise.

The Seat Cupra R is the top of the range in the Seat Leon family. It’s available now, with prices starting from €40,305.

Tech spec:
Engine: 2.0 TSI 260PS
Acceleration: 0-100km/h in 6.2seconds
Maximum Speed: 250km/h
Combined fuel consumption: 8.1l/100km
CO2 emissions: 190 g/km
Annual road tax: €677 (Band E)

Visit seat.ie or the Seat Ireland Facebook page for further details.